Animal feed supplement

ABSTRACT

An animal feed supplement and an animal feed composition including said animal feed supplement and methods of making said animal feed supplement and animal feed composition. The animal feed supplement includes at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to an animal feed supplement comprising at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid. The present invention further relates to animal feed compositions comprising said animal feed supplement. The present invention also relates to the various uses of said animal feed supplement and animal feed composition and to methods of making said animal feed supplement and animal feed compositions.

BACKGROUND

Livestock emissions are responsible for about 15% of all global greenhouse gas emissions and are the third largest contributor of greenhouse gases after energy and industry. The negative effect of methane on the climate is about 21 times higher than the effect of carbon dioxide. On average, a cow releases between 85 and 170 kg of methane per year.

Particular types of microbes in the gut of ruminant animals use nutrients consumed by the animal to produce methane as a by-product. In addition to the negative effects of methane on climate change, this also reduces the nutrients available for use by the animal.

It is therefore desirable to provide alternative and/or improved compositions to reduce methane production and/or increase availability of nutrients to an animal.

SUMMARY

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal feed supplement comprising at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an animal feed composition comprising an animal feed supplement according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention.

In accordance with a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a use of an animal feed supplement or animal feed composition according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention to reduce methane production by an animal. As such, there is also provided a method for reducing methane production by an animal, the method comprising administering an animal feed supplement or animal feed composition according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention to the animal.

In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided a use of an animal feed supplement or animal feed composition according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention to increase and/or increase efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by an animal. As such, there is also provided a method for increasing and/or increasing efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by an animal, the method comprising administering an animal feed supplement or an animal feed composition according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention to the animal.

In accordance with a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a use of an animal feed supplement or animal feed composition according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention to increase availability of nutrients to an animal. As such, there is also provided a method for increasing availability of nutrients to an animal, the method comprising administering an animal feed supplement or an animal feed composition according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention to the animal.

In accordance with a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for making an animal feed supplement according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising combining at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid.

In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for making an animal feed composition according to any aspect or embodiment of the present invention, the method comprising combining an animal feed with at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid.

The uses and methods described herein are considered to be purely non-therapeutic. However, to the extent that any of the uses and methods described herein are considered to be therapeutic, the therapeutic uses and methods and animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions for use in said therapeutic uses and methods are also provided as further aspects of the present invention.

In certain embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, the at least one organosulfur compound is or includes allicin.

In certain embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, each of the one or more bioflavonoids is independently selected from anthoxanthins, flavanones (including flavanone glycosides), flavonols, flavanonols, flavans, isoflavones, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins. In certain embodiments, each of the one or more bioflavonoids is independently selected from anthoxanthins and flavanones (including flavanone glycosides).

In certain embodiments of any aspect of the present invention the one or more bioflavonoid is selected from the group consisting of naringin, neohesperidin, eriocitrin, isonaringin, naringenin, hesperidin, roifolin, diosmin, didymin, hesperetin, poncirin, catechin, rutin, acacetin, genistein, kaempferol, epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate and gallocatechin gallate. In certain embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoid is selected from naringin and neohesperidin.

In certain embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, the animal feed supplement or animal feed composition includes two or more bioflavonoids. In certain embodiments, the animal feed supplement or animal feed composition includes two bioflavonoids. In certain embodiments, the animal feed supplement or animal feed composition includes naringin and neohesperidin.

In certain embodiments of any aspect of the present invention, the animal is a ruminant animal or a pseudo-ruminant animal.

Embodiments of the invention will be further described in the detailed description. Any embodiment described herein or any combination of embodiments described herein is applicable to any one or more aspect of the present invention unless clearly contradicted by context.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is based, at least one part, on the surprising finding that a combination of at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid can reduce methane production and/or emissions by animals such as ruminant animals.

Hereinafter, the invention shall be described according to preferred embodiments of the present invention and by referring to the accompanying description. However, it is to be understood that limiting the description to the preferred embodiments of the invention is merely to facilitate discussion of the present invention and it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

The terms generally used hereinbefore and hereinafter have for preference the meanings indicated below, unless indicated otherwise, whereby more specific meanings may be used independently of one another in preferred embodiments of the present inventions instead of the general definitions, these more specific significances describing especially preferred embodiments of the invention.

Where the term “at least one” or “one or more” occurs hereinbefore and hereinafter, this signifies in particular one to ten, for preference one to five or one to three, and in particular one or, further, two of the features enumerated, such as components. Where ranges are indicated, such as weight percentage ranges, these include the limit values indicated; thus, for example, “between X and Y” signifies “from and including X up to and including Y”.

The term “product” or “composition” may refer to a pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or cosmetic product or composition. The product or composition may, for example, be a solid, semi-solid (e.g. gel, ointment, cream, paste) or liquid product or composition.

The term “therapeutic treatment” or “therapeutic method”, also includes prophylaxis and the alleviation of symptoms of a disease and/or disorder in a subject, although not cosmetic treatments. The expression “treating or preventing” and analogous terms used herein refers to all forms of healthcare intended to remove or avoid the disease and/or disorder or to relieve its symptoms, including preventive and curative care, as judged according to any of the tests available according to the prevailing medical practice. An intervention that aims with reasonable expectation to achieve a particular result but does not always do so is included within the expression “treating or preventing”. An intervention that succeeds in slowing or halting progression of a disease and/or disorder is included within the expression “treating or preventing”.

The term “nutraceutical” refers to a food or part of a food that includes, but is not limited to, dietary supplements, functional foods and medicinal foods. A “nutraceutical” can be used in a therapeutic treatment and/or non-therapeutic treatment depending on the desires and/or needs of a subject.

The term “consisting of” may, for example, exclude any additional element, step or ingredient not explicitly recited.

The term “consisting essentially of” may, for example, exclude any additional element, step or ingredient not explicitly recited unless the additional element, step or ingredient does not materially affect the basic and novel properties of the invention. Where the one or more additional element(s), step(s) or ingredient(s) is/are one or more additional component(s) of a composition, the total amount of the additional component(s) in the composition may, for example, be limited to 20 wt %. For example, the total amount of the additional component(s) in the composition may be limited to 19 wt % or 18 wt % or 17 wt % or 16 wt % or 15 wt % or 14 wt % or 13 wt % or 12 wt % or 11 wt % or 10 wt % or 9 wt % or 8 wt % or 7 wt % or 6 wt % or 5 wt % or 4 wt % or 3 wt % or 2 wt % or 1 wt %.

Animal Feed Supplement

There is provided herein an animal feed supplement comprising at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid. The term “supplement” refers to a product or composition, which may, for example, be a solid, semi-solid (e.g. gel, ointment, cream, paste) or liquid product (e.g. solutions, suspensions, emulsions) or composition, that is suitable for and/or intended for addition to animal feed in order to provide one or more beneficial effects. However, the animal feed supplement is not sufficient on its own to meet the nutritional need of the animal. The animal feed supplement and the various components of the animal feed supplement may, for example, be present in various concentrations and may, for example, be diluted upon addition to the animal feed composition. Although it may be preferred that the animal feed supplement is consumed by the animal together with its usual animal feed, the animal feed supplement may also be consumed by the animal separately to any animal feed, for example as a liquid (e.g. diluted in water) or in the form of a bolus or tablet.

The animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions described herein comprise one or more organosulfur compounds. For example, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions may comprise two or more organosulfur compounds or three or more organosulfur compounds or four or more organosulfur compounds or five or more organosulfur compounds. For example, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions may comprise one, two, three, four or five bioflavonoids. For example, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions may comprise one organosulfur compound that may be allicin.

Organosulfur compounds are organic compounds that contain sulfur. In certain embodiments, each organosulfur compound may independently be selected from thioethers, thioesters, thioacetals, thiols, disulfides, polysulfides, sulfoxides, sulfones, thiosulfinates, sulfimides, sulfoximides, sulfonediimines, thioketones, thioaldehydes, sulfines, sulfenes, thiocarboxylic acids (including dithiocarboxyklic acids), sulfonic acids, sulfinic acids, sulfenic acids, sulfonic esters, sulfinic esters, sulfenic esters, sulfonic amides, sulfinic amides, sulfenic amides, sulfonium compounds, oxosulfonium compounds, sulfonium ylides, oxosulfonium ylides, thiocarbonyl ylides, sulfuranes and persulfuranes. In certain embodiments, each organosulfur compound is independently selected from thioesters, sulfoxides, thioethers, disulfides, polysulfides (including trisulfides) and thiols. In certain embodiments, each organosulfur compound is independently selected from thioesters, sulfoxides, thioethers, disulfides and polysulfides (including trisulfides).

In certain embodiments, each organosulfur compound is independently selected from allicin, alliin, allyipropyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, s-allylcysteine, vinyldithiines (3-vinyl-4H-1,2-dithiin and 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin) and diallyl disulphide. In certain embodiments, the at least one organosulfur compound is or includes allicin.

Allicin is an organosulfur compound having the chemical formula C₆H₁₀OS₂ and structure shown below.

The at least one organosulfur compound such as allicin may, for example, be obtained from garlic or another Allium species. For example, the organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may be obtained from an extract of an Allium species such as garlic (Allium sativum). The term extract encompasses aqueous extracts, non-aqueous extracts, alcoholic extracts, concentrates, oils, macerations, powders, granules and combinations of two or more thereof. For example, the organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may be obtained from raw garlic.

The organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may, for example, be derived from any of the subspecies and varieties of Allium that are currently known or are later discovered, such as garlic (Allium sativum), Allium ursinum, Allium fistulosum, and Allium tricoccum. For example, the organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may independently be derived from garlic of the subspecies ophioscorodon (hard neck garlic) and sativum (soft neck garlic). For example, the organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may independently be derived from porcelain garlics, rocambole garlics, purple stripe garlics, marbled purple stripe garlics, glazed purple stripe garlics, artichoke garlics, silverskin garlics, asiatic garlics, turban garlics and creole garlics. In particular, the organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may be obtained from Allium sativum.

The Allium from which the organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may be derived may, for example, have been treated or processed. For example, the Allium may be “aged” or “black” (e.g. aged or black garlic), obtained by storing the Allium in controlled conditions and heated under specific temperature, humidity and solvents, for example over several days or weeks, to cause the cloves to darken in colour after undergoing Millard or browning reaction. For example, the Allium may be “fresh” or “non-aged” (e.g. fresh or non-aged garlic), obtained without undergoing special treatment or processing intentionally to transform or convert its constituents into different compounds. The fresh or non-aged Allium may, for example, have been treated or processed to remove the odour (deodourised) (e.g. deodourised garlic extract). Generally, an encapsulation or coating process can be applied to mask or reduce the odour. Alternatively, taste-masking ingredients such as green tea, parsley, basil, spinach etc. can be added to mask or reduce the odour in a composition.

The organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) may or may not be isolated and/or purified before incorporation into the animal feed supplement and animal feed compositions described herein. As such, in certain embodiments the animal feed supplement or animal feed compositions described herein may comprise raw garlic and/or garlic extracts.

In other embodiments, the organosulfur compound (e.g. allicin) is chemically synthesized. In certain embodiments, allicin may be obtained by treating a natural source of allinase to release allinase, contacting the treated source of allinase with alliin, whereby alliin is enzymatically converted to allicin and optionally extracting the allicin. A suitable method is further described, for example, in WO 03/004668, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In other embodiments, allicin may be completely chemically synthesized.

The term bioflavonoid refers to a class of plant and fungus secondary metabolites and having the general structure of a 15-carbon skeleton consisting of two phenyl rings (A and B) and heterocyclic ring (C), sometimes abbreviated as C6-C3-C6. The term bioflavonoid includes anthoxanthins (including flavones and flavonols), flavanones, flavanonols, flavans and anthocyanidins. The term bioflavonoid also includes compounds having a flavone backbone (2-phenyl-1,4-benzopyrone), an isoflavan backbone (3-phenylchromen-4-one) or a neoflavan backbone (4-phenylcoumarine).

In certain embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoids is each independently selected from anthoxanthins (including flavones and flavonols), flavanones (including flavanone glycosides), flavanonols, flavans, isoflavones, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins. In certain embodiments, each of the one or more bioflavonoids is independently selected from anthoxanthins and flavanones (including flavanone glycosides). In certain embodiments, all bioflavonoids are anthoxanthins and/or flavanones. In certain embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoid(s) is/are independently a flavone or a flavanone. In certain embodiments, all bioflavonoids are flavones and/or flavanones. The flavones and flavanones may, for example, independently be flavone glycosides and flavanone glycosides respectively. In certain embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoid(s) is/are flavanones. In certain embodiments, all of the bioflavonoid(s) is/are flavanones. In certain embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoid(s) is/are flavanone glycosides. In certain embodiments, all of the bioflavonoid(s) is/are flavanone glycosides.

The one or more bioflavonoid(s) may, for example, be selected from the group consisting of naringin, neohesperidin, eriocitrin, isonaringin, naringenin, hesperidin, roifolin, diosmin, didymin, hesperetin, poncirin, catechin, rutin, acacetin, genistein, kaempferol, epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate and gallocatechin gallate. In certain embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoid(s) includes naringin and neohesperidin. In certain embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoid(s) is a combination of naringin and neohesperidin.

The animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions described herein comprise one or more bioflavonoids. For example, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions may comprise two or more bioflavonoids or three or more bioflavonoids or four or more bioflavonoids or five or more bioflavonoids. For example, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions may comprise one, two, three, four or five bioflavonoids. For example, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions may comprise two bioflavonoids that may be naringin and neohesperidin.

The one or more bioflavonoids may, for example, be obtained from a part of a plant (e.g. fruit or vegetable). For example, flavonols may be obtained from tomatoes, beans, almonds and/or turnips. For example, flavan-3-ols may be obtained from peaches, plums, strawberries and/or green tea. For example, flavones may be obtained from watermelon and/or peppers. For example, flavonones may be obtained from a Citrus species fruit. For example, anthocyanidins may be obtained from blueberries, bananas, strawberries, cranberries and/or plums.

The one or more bioflavonoids may, for example, be obtained from a Citrus species fruit such as oranges, lemons, grapefruit, pomelo or limes. In particular, the one or more bioflavonoids may be obtained from oranges.

For example, the one or more bioflavonoids may be obtained from an extract of a Citrus species fruit. The term extract encompasses aqueous extracts, non-aqueous extracts, alcoholic extracts, concentrates, oils, macerations, powders, granules and combinations of two or more thereof. For example, the one or more bioflavonoids may be obtained from raw Citrus fruit.

The one or more bioflavonoids may or may not be isolated and/or purified before incorporation into the animal feed supplement and animal feed compositions described herein. As such, in certain embodiments the animal feed supplement or animal feed compositions described herein may comprise raw Citrus fruit and/or Citrus fruit extracts.

In other embodiments, the one or more bioflavonoids may each independently be chemically synthesized.

In certain embodiments, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions described herein comprise two bioflavonoids. The ratio of the first bioflavonoid to the second bioflavonoid may, for example, range from about 0.5:5 to about 3:1. For example, the ratio of the first bioflavonoid to the second bioflavonoid may range from about 0.5:5 to about 2.5:1 or from about 0.5:5 to about 2:1 or from about 0.5:5 to about 1.5:1 or from about 0.5:5 to about 1:1. For example, the ratio of the first bioflavonoid to the second bioflavonoid may range from about 1:5 to about 3:1 or from about 1.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 2:5 to about 3:1 or from about 2.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 3:5 to about 3:1 or from about 3.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 4:5 to about 3:1 or from about 4.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 5:5 to about 3:1.

In certain embodiments, the animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions described herein comprise naringin and neohesperidin. The ratio of the naringin to neohesperidin may, for example, range from about 0.5:5 to about 3:1. For example, the ratio of naringin to neohesperidin may range from about 0.5:5 to about 2.5:1 or from about 0.5:5 to about 2:1 or from about 0.5:5 to about 1.5:1 or from about 0.5:5 to about 1:1. For example, the ratio of naringin to neohesperidin may range from about 1:5 to about 3:1 or from about 1.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 2:5 to about 3:1 or from about 2.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 3:5 to about 3:1 or from about 3.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 4:5 to about 3:1 or from about 4.5:5 to about 3:1 or from about 5:5 to about 3:1.

In certain embodiments, the ratio of total organosulfur compounds to total bioflavonoids ranges from about 10:1 to about 1:30. For example, the ratio of total organosulfur compounds to total bioflavonoids may range from about 9:1 to about 1:25 or from about 8:1 to about 1:20 or from about 7:1 to about 1:15 or from about 6:1 to about 1:10 or from about 5:1 to about 1:8 or from about 4:1 to about 1:7 or from about 3:1 to about 1:6 or from about 2:1 to about 1:5 or from about 1:1 to about 1:4. For example, the ratio of total organosulfur compounds to total bioflavonoids may range from about 1:1 to about 1:3 or from about 2:1 to about 1:4. For example, the ratio of total organosulfur compounds to total bioflavonoids may be about 1:3.

In certain embodiments, the ratio of allicin to total bioflavonoids ranges from about 10:1 to about 1:30. For example, the ratio of allicin to total bioflavonoids may range from about 9:1 to about 1:25 or from about 8:1 to about 1:20 or from about 7:1 to about 1:15 or from about 6:1 to about 1:10 or from about 5:1 to about 1:8 or from about 4:1 to about 1:7 or from about 3:1 to about 1:6 or from about 2:1 to about 1:5 or from about 1:1 to about 1:4. For example, the ratio of allicin to total bioflavonoids may range from about 1:1 to about 1:3 or from about 2:1 to about 1:4. For example, the ratio of allicin to total bioflavonoids may be about 1:3.

The animal feed supplement may, for example, comprise other components in addition to the active material such as, for example, flavourings, colourants, stabilizers, buffers, emulsifiers, dispersants, thickeners, solubilising agents, micronutrients (for example selenium), vitamins, feed material (for example carbohydrates) and the like.

Animal Feed Composition

The animal feed supplement disclosed herein (including all embodiments and any combination of embodiments) may be combined with an animal feed to form an animal feed composition.

The animal feed may, for example, be any composition suitable for providing nutrition to an animal, particularly a ruminant animal. For example, the animal feed may be suitable for any ruminant animal, for example cows, goats, sheep, yaks, deer or antelope. For example, the animal feed may be suitable for any pseudo-ruminant animal, for example, camels and hippopotami. For example, the animal feed may be suitable for any monogastric animal, for example kangaroos, rats, dogs, pigs, cats, horses and rabbits. For example, the animal feed may be suitable for monogastric herbivores such as kangaroos, horses and rabbits.

The animal feed may be solid, semi-solid (e.g. gel, ointment, cream, paste) or liquid (e.g. solutions, suspensions, emulsions). The animal feed supplement may independently be solid, semi-solid (e.g. gel, ointment, cream, paste) or liquid (e.g. solutions, suspensions, emulsions). For example, the animal feed and animal feed supplement may both be liquid or both be semi-solid or both be solid. Alternatively, the animal feed and animal feed supplement may each be a different physical state. For example, the animal feed may be solid or semi-solid and the animal feed supplement may be liquid. The animal feed supplement may, for example, be used to “top-dress” (added on top) a ruminant feedlot ration or may be used to blend into a total mixed ration. The animal feed supplement may, for example, be added to the drinking water of the animal. In certain embodiments, the animal feed supplement may be added to the drinking water of the animal immediately before ingestion, for example up to 1 hour before ingestion or up to 30 minutes before ingestion or up to 15 minutes before ingestion or up to 5 minutes before ingestion.

The three main types of animal feed include roughages, concentrates and mixed feeds. In general, roughages contain a high percentage of crude fibre and a low percentage of digestible nutrients. For example, roughages may be defined as containing equal to or greater than 20 wt % crude fibre and equal to or less than 60 wt % total digestible nutrients. Roughages may include, for example, dry roughages (e.g. hay, straw, artificially dehydrated forages containing at least 90 wt % dry matter), silages (formed from green forages such as grass, alfalfa, sorghum and corn and preserved in a silo at dry matter contents of 20 to 50%), and pastures (e.g. green growing pastures providing forage that has a high water content and only 20 to 30% dry matter). The two basic types of roughages include grasses and legumes. Grasses are generally higher in fibre and dry matter than legumes. Legumes are generally higher in proteins, energy, vitamins and minerals.

Concentrates are the opposite of roughages and contain a low percentage of crude fibre and a high percentage of digestible nutrients. For example, concentrates may be defined as containing less than 20 wt % crude fibre and greater than 60 wt % total digestible nutrients. Concentrates may include, for example, energy-rich grains and molasses. Corn, oats, barley and milo (sorghum grain) are energy-rich grains, containing about 70 to 80 wt % total digestible nutrients. Concentrates also include wheat bran, rice bran, wheat middlings, rye middlings and rice polish.

Mixed feeds are generally a mixture of roughages and concentrates to provide “complete” balanced rations and may be either high or low in energy, protein or fibre.

The at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid may, for example, be combined with animal feed in various amounts depending on the total amount of organosulfur compound(s) and bioflavonoid(s) that are intended to be administered to the animal. For example, the total amount of organosulfur compound(s) and bioflavonoid(s) may be enough such that up to 10 grams total organosulfur compound(s) and bioflavonoid(s) may be administered to one animal per day.

The concentration of total organosulfur compounds present in the animal feed supplements or animal feed compositions described herein may, for example, be higher than the concentration of each respective organosulfur compound naturally found in Allium spp.

The animal feed composition may, for example, comprise from about 0.3 wt % to about 10 wt % of total organosulfur compounds, based on the total dry weight of the animal feed composition. For example, the animal feed composition may comprise from about 0.4 wt % to about 9.5 wt % or from about 0.5 wt % to about 9 wt % or from about 0.6 wt % to about 8.5 wt % or from about 0.7 wt % to about 8 wt % or from about 0.8 wt % to about 7.5 wt % or from about 0.9 wt % to about 7 wt % or from about 1 wt % to about 6 wt % or from about 1.5 wt % to about 5.5 wt % or from about 2 wt % to about 5 wt % or from about 2.5 wt % to about 4.5 wt % or from about 3 wt % to about 4 wt % total organosulfur compounds based on the total dry weight of the animal feed composition.

The animal feed composition may, for example, comprise from about 0.3 wt % to about 10 wt % of allicin, based on the total dry weight of the animal feed composition. For example, the animal feed composition may comprise from about 0.4 wt % to about 9.5 wt % or from about 0.5 wt % to about 9 wt % or from about 0.6 wt % to about 8.5 wt % or from about 0.7 wt % to about 8 wt % or from about 0.8 wt % to about 7.5 wt % or from about 0.9 wt % to about 7 wt % or from about 1 wt % to about 6 wt % or from about 1.5 wt % to about 5.5 wt % or from about 2 wt % to about 5 wt % or from about 2.5 wt % to about 4.5 wt % or from about 3 wt % to about 4 wt % allicin based on the total dry weight of the animal feed composition.

The concentration of total bioflavonoids present in the animal feed supplements or animal feed compositions described herein may, for example, be higher than the concentration of each respective bioflavonoid naturally found in plants or Citrus fruit.

The animal feed composition may, for example, comprise from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % total bioflavonoids, based on the total dry weight of the animal feed composition. For example, the animal feed composition may comprise from about 0.2 wt % to about 10 wt % or from about 0.3 wt % to about 10 wt % or from about 0.4 wt % to about 9.5 wt % or from about 0.5 wt % to about 9 wt % or from about 0.6 wt % to about 8.5 wt % or from about 0.7 wt % to about 8 wt % or from about 0.8 wt % to about 7.5 wt % or from about 0.9 wt % to about 7 wt % or from about 1 wt % to about 6 wt % or from about 1.5 wt % to about 5.5 wt % or from about 2 wt % to about 5 wt % or from about 2.5 wt % to about 4.5 wt % or from about 3 wt % to about 4 wt % total bioflavonoids based on the total dry weight of the animal feed composition.

The animal feed composition may, for example, further comprise other animal feed supplements including, for example, vitamins, minerals, antibiotics, growth stimulants and combinations thereof. For example, the animal feed composition may comprise other biologically active animal feed supplements, for example suitable for reducing methane production/emissions and/or increasing availability of nutrients to the animal. The vitamin may be any one or more of vitamin A, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamine, riboflavin, pyridoxine, cyanocobalamin, carotenoids (including beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein and lycopene), niacin, folic acid, pantothenic acid, biotin, vitamin C, choline, inositol, and salts and derivatives thereof. The mineral may be any one or more of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, cobalt, boron, iodine, sodium, potassium, molybdenum, selenium, chromium, fluorine and chloride. The animal feed composition may, for example, comprise from about 0.001 wt % to about 5 wt % of each additional animal feed supplement or from about 0.01 wt % to about 5 wt % or from about 0.1 wt % to about 5 wt % of each additional animal feed supplement.

The animal feed composition may, for example, comprise other components in addition to the active materials such as, for example, flavourings, colourants, stabilizers, buffers, emulsifiers, dispersants, thickeners, solubilising agents, micronutrients (for example selenium), vitamins, feed materials (for example carbohydrates) and the like.

Uses

The animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions described herein (including all embodiments and combinations of embodiments) may be used to reduce methane production and/or emission by animals, increase availability of nutrients to animals and/or increase and/or increase efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by animals. Without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the animal feed supplements or animal feed composition may reduce methane production by microbes in the gut of the animals, thus reducing the nutrients used by those microbes and increasing the availability of the nutrients to the animal.

In certain embodiments, the animal is a ruminant animal. Ruminant animals include, for example, cows, goats, sheep, yaks, deer or antelope. In certain embodiments, the animal is a pseudo-ruminant animal. Pseudo-ruminant animals include, for example, camels and hippopotami. In certain embodiments, the animal is a monogastric animal. Monogastric animals include, for example, kangaroos, rats, dogs, pigs, cats, horses and rabbits. In certain embodiments, the animal is a monogastric herbivore. Monogastric herbivores include, for example, kangaroos, horses and rabbits.

The animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions described herein may be administered orally to the animal. The animal feed supplements and animal feed compositions described herein may, for example, be administered daily to the animal.

The amount of the animal feed supplement and/or animal feed composition administered to or consumed by the animal may vary depending on the requirements of the animal and severity of methane production by the animal. For example, the amount of the animal feed supplement and/or animal feed composition administered to or consumed by the animal may vary depending on the type of animal, size of animal, age of animal and/or gut microbiome of the subject. Determination of the proper amount for a particular subject is within the skill of the art. The total daily amount may be divided and administered in portions during the day if desired (e.g. two portions or three portions per day). In general, a suitable daily dose of active agents will be that amount which is the lowest dose effective to produce the desired effect. Increasing the amount of the active agents (allicin and bioflavonoid(s)) administered to/consumed by the animal may, for example, decrease the amount of methane production.

Each animal may, for example, consume up to about 10 grams of total organosulfur compounds and bioflavonoid(s) per day. For example, each animal may consume up to about 9 grams or up to about 8 grams or up to about 7 grams or up to about 6 grams or up to about 5 grams or up to about 4 grams or up to about 3 grams or up to about 2 grams of total organosulfur compounds and bioflavonoid(s) per day. Each animal may, for example, consume at least about 0.5 grams of total organosulfur compounds and bioflavonoid(s) per day. For example, each animal may consume at least about 1 gram or at least about 1.5 gram of total organosulfur compounds and bioflavonoid(s) per day.

The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, reduce methane production and/or emissions by at least about 20% (compared to methane production and/or emission if the animal feed supplement was not consumed). For example, the animal feed supplement may reduce methane production and/or emissions by at least about 25% or at least about 30% or at least about 35% or at least about 40% or at least about 45% or at least about 50%. The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, reduce methane production and/or emissions by up to 100%. For example, the animal feed supplement may reduce methane production and/or emissions by up to about 95% or up to about 90% or up to about 85% or up to about 80% or up to about 75% or up to about 70%. This may, for example, be measured by the Hohenheim gas test described in the examples below.

The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, increase milk and/or meat and/or wool production by at least about 20% (compared to milk and/or meat and/or wool production if the animal feed supplement was not consumed). For example, the animal feed supplement may increase milk and/or meat and/or wool production by at least about 25% or at least about 30% or at least about 35% or at least about 40% or at least about 45% or at least about 50%. The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, increase milk and/or meat and/or wool production by up to 100%. For example, the animal feed supplement may increase milk and/or meat and/or wool production by up to about 95% or up to about 90% or up to about 85% or up to about 80% or up to about 75% or up to about 70%. This may be measured, for example, by volume of milk produced per day or by weight of animal or by weight of wool.

The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, increase efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by at least about 20% (compared to efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production if the animal feed supplement was not consumed). For example, the animal feed supplement may increase efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by at least about 25% or at least about 30% or at least about 35% or at least about 40% or at least about 45% or at least about 50%. The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, increase efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by up to 100%. For example, the animal feed supplement may increase efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by up to about 95% or up to about 90% or up to about 85% or up to about 80% or up to about 75% or up to about 70%. Efficiency relates to the degree to which a particular biological process (e.g. milk, meat, wool production) takes place per unit of nutrition consumed. This may be measured, for example, by change in volume of milk produced per day or weight of animal or weight of wool divided by the total nutrients consumed by the animal.

The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, increase nutrient availability by at least about 20% (compared to milk and/or meat and/or wool production if the animal feed supplement was not consumed). For example, the animal feed supplement may increase nutrient availability by at least about 25% or at least about 30% or at least about 35% or at least about 40% or at least about 45% or at least about 50%. The animal feed supplement described herein may, for example, increase nutrient availability by up to 100%. For example, the animal feed supplement may increase nutrient availability by up to about 95% or up to about 90% or up to about 85% or up to about 80% or up to about 75% or up to about 70%. Nutrient availability refers to the amounts of nutrients that are available to the animal to be used for biological/metabolic functions.

In certain embodiments, the organosulfur compound(s) (e.g. allicin) and bioflavonoid(s) present in the animal feed supplement or composition may act synergistically to reduce methane production, increase nutrient availability and/or increase meat and/or milk and/or wool production. The synergistic combination of organosulfur compound(s) (e.g. allicin) and at least one bioflavonoid delivers an effect that is greater than the sum of the effect by the individual organosulfur compound(s) and bioflavonoid components on their own and thus can provide an improved performance.

Methods of Manufacture

The animal feed supplements described herein may be made by combining one or more organosulfur compound(s) and one or more bioflavonoid(s). The animal feed compositions described herein may be made by combining an animal feed with one or more organosulfur compound(s) and one or more bioflavonoid(s). The components are combined in suitable amounts to obtain a composition having the desired quantity of each component. Each component may be combined with one or more other components in any order and combination suitable to obtain the desired product. For example, each component may be combined by mixing or blending. For example, the one or more organosulfur compound(s) and one or more bioflavonoid(s) may be combined with an animal feed by placing the one or more organosulfur compound(s) and one or more bioflavonoid(s) on top of the animal feed (top-dressing). Such methods are well known in the art. The composition may be prepared in the dry solid form, for example, powder form, and subject to further processing step depending on the types of the formulation for the intended finished products. The methods may further comprise a forming step, wherein the mixture is moulded, pressed, spray dried or otherwise formed into a shape (e.g. bar, ball, pellet, clusters, tablet), preferably with dimensions and/or textures suitable for consumption by an animal of the types described herein. The methods may comprise housing the animal feed or animal feed supplement in a specific delivery device such as a syringe. The method may comprise forming animal feed supplement or animal feed into a bolus tablet that may be intended to stay in the stomach of the animal (e.g. rumen of the ruminant animal).

The invention will now be described in detail by way of reference only to the following non-limiting examples.

Examples

The in vitro Hohenheim gas test (HGT) including the preparation of all buffers and reagents was carried out according to the protocol of Menke and Steingass (1988), “Menke K. R, Steingass H., Estimation of the energetic feed value obtained from chemical analysis and gas production using rumen fluid, Anim. Res. Dev. 28, 7-55”, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

Briefly, ruminal fluid was strained through four layers of gauze (1 mm pore size, type 17 MedPro, Novamed AG, Flawil, Switzerland), before being mixed with preheated, reduced Menke buffer (Menke and Steingass, 1988). The ruminal fluid/buffer mixture was then dispensed into pre-warmed incubation units containing the respective test additives.

Each airtight syringe unit contained 25 ml of a ruminal fluid/buffer mixture (1:3; v/v), 300 mg dried and ground total mixed ration (TMR) and 50 ml of the test substrate prepared to give a desired concentration ml⁻¹. Each test substrate and controls were tested in six replicates, with each run including a substrate control (rumen fluid plus 300 mg dried and ground substrate of the total mixed ration (TMR) fed to the fistulated sheep from which the ruminal fluid was obtained). Each substrate was also tested on different days to allow for variability in the microbial community. This mixture was incubated for 8 hours at a constant temperature of 39° C. After 8 hours, total gas and liquid volumes were recorded from the calibrated scale printed on the incubation units and fermentation was terminated by decanting only the incubation liquid from the incubation units while fermentation gas was left inside. Then 150 ml of gas was drawn from the incubation units with a Hamilton syringe (Hamilton, AG, Bonaduz, Switzerland) through a gas-tight septum covering the second outlet of the modified units. The main constituents of the flavonoid mix were naringin and neohesperidin at a ratio of 2.10:0.92. Monensin, a polyether antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces cinnamonensis, was used as a positive control.

Fermentation gas was analyzed on a Hewlett Packard gas chromatograph (model 5890 Series II, Avondale, Pa., USA) for methane concentration. For the analysis of the volatile fatty acids (VFA), samples were prepared according to the method of Doane et al. (1998) and determined by HPLC (LaChrom, L-7000 series, Hitachi Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) following the protocol of Ehrlich et al. (1981). Reduction in methane emission results in accumulation of H₂, which leads to the decreases of acetate:propionate ratio and acetate:butyrate ratio. This decreased ratio indicates an increase in propionate and butyrate (as formation of propionate and butyrate uses up the H₂). The increase in propionate would then result in an increase of meat productivity in ruminants, while the increase in butyrate results in an increase of milk productivity in ruminants.

The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below.

TABLE 1 Concentration Average Average of test Methane Percentage Methane Percentage Test composition Concentration (%) of Control Concentration (%) of Control Average Comp. (μg/ml) (First Run) (First Run) (Second Run) (Second Run) Reduction (%) Allicin/ 132 μg/ml 2.31 19 3.43 26 77 Flavonoid (33 μg/ml Mix Allicin Pure Equivalent 99 μg/ml Flavonoid Pure Equivalent) Control N/A 12.25 100 13.10 100 0 Substrate Control N/A 11.55 94 12.67 97 4 Substrate + Carrier (water) Flavonoid 99 μg/ml 12.14 99 12.91 99 1 Mix Only Flavonoid Pure Equivalent Monensin 98.8 μg/ml 8.89 73 9.71 74 27

TABLE 2 Propionate Butyrate Test Concentration of Test Acetate:Propionate Acetate:Butyrate Percentage of Percentage of Composition Composition (mg/ml) Ratio Ratio Control (%) Control (%) Allicin/Flavonoid 132 μg/ml (33 μg/ml 1.58:1 0.12:1 123 131 Mix Allicin Pure Equivalent 99 μg/ml Flavonoid Pure Equivalent) Control Substrate N/A 2.05:1 0.17:1 100 100 Control Substrate + N/A 2.05:1 0.17:1 100 103 Carrier (water) Flavonoid Mix 99 μg/ml Flavonoid   2:1 0.17:1 102 105 Only Pure Equivalent) Monensin 98.8 μg/ml 1.58:1 0.15:1 116 73 

1. An animal feed supplement comprising: at least one organosulfur compound; and at least one bioflavonoid.
 2. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least one organosulfur compound is independently selected from allicin, alliin, allylpropyl disulfide, diallyl trisulfide, s-allylcysteine, vinyldithiines (e.g. 3-vinyl-4H-1,2-dithiin and 2-vinyl-4H-1,3-dithiin) and diallyl disulfide.
 3. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one organosulfur compound comprises allicin.
 4. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, comprising at least two different bioflavonoids.
 5. The animal feed supplement according to claim 4, wherein each of the bioflavonoids is independently selected from anthoxanthins, flavanones, flavonols, flavanonols, flavans, isoflavones, anthocyanidins and proanthocyanidins.
 6. The animal feed supplement according to claim 4, wherein each of the bioflavonoids is independently selected from the group consisting of naringin, neohesperidin, eriocitrin, isonaringin, naringenin, hesperidin, roifolin, diosmin, didymin, hesperetin, poncirin, catechin, rutin, acacetin, genistein, kaempferol, epicatechin, gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin, gallate, epigallocatechin gallate, and gallocatechin gallate.
 7. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bioflavonoid comprises a combination of naringin and neohesperidin.
 8. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein a ratio of total organosulfur compounds to total bioflavonoid in the animal feed supplement ranges from about 10:1 to about 1:30.
 9. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one organosulfur compound comprises an extract of Allium spp.
 10. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one bioflavonoid comprises an extract of Citrus spp.
 11. The animal feed supplement according to claim 1, wherein the animal feed supplement is a solid or liquid.
 12. An animal feed composition comprising an animal feed supplement according to claim
 1. 13. The animal feed composition according to claim 12, wherein the animal feed composition comprises from about 0.3 wt % to about 10 wt % of total organosulfur compounds based on a dry weight of the animal feed composition.
 14. The animal feed composition according to claim 12, wherein the animal feed composition comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 10 wt % of total bioflavonoids based on a dry weight of the animal feed composition.
 15. The animal feed composition according to claim 12, wherein the animal feed composition is a solid or liquid.
 16. The animal feed composition according to claim 12, wherein the animal feed composition is a concentrate animal feed composition, a roughage animal feed composition or a mixture thereof.
 17. Use of an animal feed supplement or an animal feed composition according to claim 1 to reduce methane production by a ruminant animal.
 18. Use of an animal feed supplement or an animal feed composition according to claim 1 to increase and/or increase efficiency of milk and/or meat and/or wool production by a ruminant animal.
 19. Use of an animal feed supplement or an animal feed composition according to claim 1 to increase availability of nutrients to an animal.
 20. The use of claim 17, wherein the animal feed supplement or the animal feed composition is consumed by the ruminant animal.
 21. The use of claim 17, wherein the animal feed composition is provided to the ruminant animal such that the ruminant animal consumes up to 10 grams of the animal feed supplement per day.
 22. (canceled)
 23. A method of making an animal feed supplement according to claim 1, the method comprising combining at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid.
 24. A method of making an animal feed composition according to claim 12, the method comprising combining an animal feed composition with at least one organosulfur compound and at least one bioflavonoid.
 25. A method of reducing methane production by, and/or increasing milk, meat and/or wool production of, a ruminant animal, the method comprising introducing the animal feed supplement according to claim 1 to feed of the ruminant animal, wherein the animal feed supplement is consumed by the ruminant animal. 